Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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109. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many more households became eligible for septic tank grants since the announcement in November 2023 on changes to the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10035/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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110. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government who can apply for the septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10036/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of households in the State in the eligible areas for septic-tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10037/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of households in County Roscommon and County Galway in the eligible areas for septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10038/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the eligible areas for the septic-tank grant, given the majority of areas cannot access it as they are outside the eligible area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10039/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide a map to show the areas eligible for a septic-tank grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10040/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114 together.

My Departments’ Rural Water Programme provides grant support to households in specific circumstances where capital works are required to rectify defective Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks.

There are currently three grants available and their purpose is to provide financial assistance to reduce the environmental impact from defective septic tanks and to protect human health. They are not universally available. Householders are eligible where a septic tank has been found to be defective following an inspection by the local authority or if located in a designated area of greatest environmental priority.

Substantial changes to the terms and conditions of all three grants took effect from 1 January, 2024 including an increase in the maximum grant amount available to €12,000 from €5,000. The objective of the changes made is to encourage more householders to seek and avail of the grant and consequently help reduce the risk of environmental impact from defective tanks.

A comparison of the amount paid and the number of households availing of the grants shows significant recent increases. In 2024 almost €2.5 million was paid to 265 households, compared to just over €900,000 paid to 194 households in 2023.

Each local authority has responsibility for the administration of the grants and are best place to provide figures and detail of households in their respective areas, my Department does not compile this information.

Under the recently launched Water Action Plan, new geographical areas across the country have been identified as Prioritised Areas for Action and High Status Objective Catchment Areas. I have no plans at the current time to extend these areas.